The Inside Scoop
September 2020
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Thank you for reading Youth Pride, Inc.'s September edition of The Inside Scoop! Within you will read about our reopening plan and the success of our virtual 5k. You will also learn about all the ways local organizations are giving back to YPI such as Boscov's Friends Helping Friends event, Little Showcase/Michael Ezzell art donation, and Varsity Gay League's partnership with YPI.
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Thank you to everyone who went the distance for YPI during the month of August. Thirty four individuals signed up for the virtual 5k; running more than 105.74 miles on behalf of YPI! We loved seeing the photos and shoutouts that individuals sent during their 5k experiences. Here is one of our favorite submissions; a previous YPI intern, Kaylyn and her partner, Sam, just after completing the 5k. They are even representing YPI by wearing out youth designed t-shirts!
Thank you for all your hard work, Alyssa Mason, Going the Distance RI planner and organizer, Susan Rancourt, CFO of Rhode Races, Savonnara Sok, logo creator, and Sin Seven, t-shirt printer!
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We would like to wish Lukas a very special four year workaversy at YPI! Lukas facilitates Gender Spectrum, our weekly discussion/support group for trans, questioning, and gender nonconforming youth. Xe also keeps our Basic Needs Pantry is terrific shape; keeping everything organized, in date, and cleaned.
Thank you for all you do for YPI and the youth we serve, Lukas!
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YPI is partnering with local community members who want to donate their time to tutoring YPI youth in response to the gaps in education created by COVID-19.
Currently, math tutoring is completely set up and ready to accept students! We are trying to determine which other subjects and grade levels would be most beneficial for us to find tutors for. If you're a student, please fill out our tutoring survey below to give us your feedback!
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Starting mid September, YPI will be opening our doors for youth to access several of our services. We will have appointment slots available for youth to utilize our Basic Needs Pantry, Computers/Wifi, and phone charging station. Our virtual programs will continue as is, as scheduled. Case management and counseling will happen in person at YPI on a case y case basis. |
Over the past month, staff have worked diligently reorganizing our space to make our Basic Needs Pantry easily accessible for in person use. Shelves of food and toiletries line one wall of our main space, allowing 6 feet of distance between youth going through the pantry and staff supervising. Clothing will be on hangers, encouraging less physical handling of the garments.
In addition to these physical safety measures, everyone entering the building will also be asked about COVID symptoms /exposure and be required to wear a mask for the duration of their visit. All high touch areas will be cleaned and disinfected in between appointments and no more than five individuals will be in our space at one time; two staff and one to three youth.
Keep an eye out on our social media pages and website for updates on the exact date of reopening and how to sign up for an appointment slot!
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Boscov's
Friends Helping Friends
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Boscov's department store is partnering up with Youth Pride, Inc. for the upcoming Annual Friends Helping Friends event happening October 14 and 15th.
Friends Helping Friends is a way for Boscov to financially support YPI through various in store and online sales that are beneficial to the customer and YPI. On Wednesday, October 14 and Thursday, October 15, when shoppers mention "Youth Pride, Inc." at checking out, YPI will receive 5% of the total sale. Anyone who shops during this two-day event will receive 20% off most items. This is application in store OR online!
Make sure to stop by the Boscov's in Providence Place mall, or check out their website for clothes, furniture, jewelry, and more!
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Racial Equality Resources
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YPI stands with youth of color and are committed to deepening racial equality within our organization and our work. We will provide resources in our newsletter to continually educate, mobilize, and engage our readers in racial justice matters.
The first link below is an extensive reading list of BLM literature including topics surrounding black feminism, immigration and colonialism, slavery, juvenile/youth policing, and racial capitalism just too name a few. Relevant podcasts, movies and interviews are also included on this list.
The second link is to Teaching For Change (TFC). TFC is a nonprofit organization that provides teachers and parents with the tools to create curriculums and schools that address real world issues with the goal of achieving a more equitable and multicultural world. Teaching for Change offers professional development, develops lessons, and curates resources to help classroom teachers supplement pre-K–12 curriculum. Check out their site for a plethora of resources and activities.
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Are you really missing drop-in hours? Need someone to talk to? Are you experiencing crisis? Have concerns, fears or mental health needs that you need to express to someone? Here are a couple of resources for you that were compiled by YPI staff. |
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Essential Resources During COVID-19
Other Resources from YPI
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Marsha P. Johnson Monument to Replace Christopher Columbus Statue |
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Marsha "Pay it No Mind" Johnson (August 24, 1945 – July 6, 1992) is one of the most revered and well known LGBTQ icons to date. This is mainly due to her participation in the Stonewall Rebellion and all of the tireless work she put into the LGBTQ Rights Movement. Johnson is also praised for co-founding The Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries in 1970; a political group that provided housing for queer youth and sex workers in lower Manhattan.
The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has drawn extra attention to the many historical monuments erected in the USA that depict controversial figures such as Christopher Columbus or Confederate soldiers. This sparked the residents of Elizabeth, New Jersey to draft an online petition to replace their statue of Christopher Columbus with a statue of the late Elizabeth resident and activist, Marsha P. Johnson. Created in June, the petition gained 166,000 signatures; the total population of Elizabeth, NJ is ~129,000.
Johnson's statue will be erected near Elizabeth's City Hall. "County officials, Johnson’s family and statewide LGBTQ group Garden State Equality plan to host a series of public events during LGBTQ History Month in October to encourage the public to participate in the planning and creating of the monument, which officials anticipate will be the first public monument in New Jersey to honor an LGBTQ person" according to NBC News.
This is not the only public recognition of Johnson, either. In 2019, New York City officials announced Johnson, and a fellow activist, Sylvia Rivera, will have a monument erected in the Greenwich Village neighborhood, where the Stonewall Rebellion took place. Also, on August 24 2020, the late Johnson's 75th birthday, New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, dedicated and renamed the East River State Park in Brooklyn to The Marsha P. Johnson State Park. This is the first state park in New York to honor an LGBTQ person.
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Monthly Spotlight
Michael Ezzell and Tiny Showcase
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Tiny Showcase is an RI based website that aims to make collecting art affordable and accessible. Each Tuesday, they select a different artist's work to highlight and sell on their site. Most art pieces are limited edition and only obtainable during their time at Tiny Showcase. Each featured artist also selects a nonprofit organization to donate a portion of the proceeds to.
Michael Ezzell, Providence based printmaker and illustrator, was selected by Tiny Showcase to present and sell their print, Oracle, and has chosen Youth Pride, Inc. as their nonprofit partner! Oracle is loosely based on Apollo, the Ancient Greek deity of healing, sun and light, and the serpentine Oracles of Delphi who delivered his divine prophesies. The original piece is acrylic on birch panel but purchased prints are sold and shipped on 10"x10" heavy 290gsm natural white paper and signed by Michael himself. One hundred prints are available for purchase.
Tiny Showcase will donate $200 to YPI from the sales of Oracle and Michael has decided to sell the original painting for $250 and add 100% of the sale to Tiny Showcase’s donation for YPI! The painting sold the first day it was published. Thank you Michael and Tiny Showcase for thinking of YPI and supporting us!
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"Michael Ezzell is an illustrator and printmaker in Providence, RI. With a degree from the Savannah College of Art & Design, Michael uses a range of mediums to create his illustrations, whether he’s in the print shop or in his home studio. His work stems from the impact that storytelling and mythology have had on his creativity and imagination. He strives to illuminate a world of his own creation and bring forth the characters and stories that live there. " - Direct quote from Michael's website, mezzell.com |
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Varsity Gay League Launches in RI with YPI as Charity Partner |
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Varsity Gay League (VGL) is the largest, and original, Queer+ recreational sports league in the USA. Founded in 2007, the league is composed of more than 25,000 LGBTQIA+ & allied athletes from 18 different leagues across the nation. Currently there are leagues in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Washington and now Rhode Island!
There are leagues for Dodgeball, Kickball, Tennis, Soccer, Beach & Indoor Volleyball, Bowling, and Darts. VGL also hosts Video Game Tournaments, Charity Drag Events, Scavenger Hunts, Home Fitness, and virtual hangouts!
The Providence league is offering Kickball this fall. The season runs from September 12 to October 31 with registration open until September 11. Individuals must be 21 or older to join and can sign up alone or with a group.
Youth Pride, Inc. is VGL Providence's Charity Partner for the upcoming 2020 Fall season and we are so excited to work alongside this awesome league and see how it develops during its inaugural season in RI . As a perk, when someone signs up for the Providence league, YPI will be donated $5. What great motivation for those on the fence about joining the league!
Thank you, Sean Corcoran, VGL PVD Manager, for reaching out to YPI and extending this opportunity to us and our community!
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Mission:
Youth Pride, Inc. is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of youth and young adults impacted by sexual orientation and gender identity/expression while working to end the homophobic and transphobic environments in which they live, work and play.
Values:
LEADERSHIP: YPI is committed to creating the leaders of today. Youth voices drive our process, and we seek to develop the leadership skills necessary both within the organization and outside of it.
AFFIRMATION: YPI believes all youth must be affirmed for who they are and how they express themselves. We are committed to making that a reality in all of the environments in which young people live.
COMMUNITY: YPI believes building strong connections is essential to youth success and empowerment. We strive to create a caring, respectful and diverse community of young people and adults.
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Your tax-deductible donation helps YPI continue to do the important work we do in accordance to our mission. Your gift would be directly investing in our state's LGBTQ youth so that they may have a chance to share their gifts and light with the world. |
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Our Programs and Services |
Youth Pride, Inc. serves over 700 Rhode Island LGBTQ youth and their straight allies a year through a variety of programs and services.
Our Center, located on Westminster Street in Providence, primarily serve as a drop-in and programming space, and is currently open to youth ages 13 to 23 on Tuesday and Wednesday from 3-8pm and Thursday from 3 to 5. Youth ages 9 to thirteen are welcome at our exclusive 13 and under drop-in time on Thursdays from 5-8 pm. All YPI Center services and activities are free to youth. YPI youth get to attend events, workshops, cultural, educational, social, and wellness activities at YPI and around the state.
Our center is home to a Basic Needs Pantry, open to youth in need of food, clothing, toiletries, and school supplies. We offer one on one counseling with in-house clinicians. Our clinicians facilitate and supervise three peer-support groups.
YPI also offers support to those who work with youth through policy and advocacy, and by providing professional development workshops and technical assistance to service providers and educators.
For more information on getting involved with YPI as a volunteer or if you or someone you know is in need of our services, contact [email protected]
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If you have a story you feel should be included in an upcoming newsletter, email [email protected] |
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